WorldStrides’ Post

Black History is World History

Be Prepared

There are hundreds of lessons we have learned from the Second World War, here are three important ones to reflect upon today as we commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. https://lnkd.in/dPPkHhRu

🌟 Celebrating Black History Month: Honoring Engineering Trailblazers 🌟   This Black History Month, let's highlight the remarkable contributions of Black individuals in civil engineering:   🛩️ Tuskegee Airmen: Aviation Pioneers 🛩️ The Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American military aviators, not only soared in the skies but also made significant strides in aviation engineering. Their expertise and dedication broke barriers and paved the way for diversity in aerospace engineering.   🏙️ Benjamin Banneker: Surveying Visionary 🏙️ Benjamin Banneker's meticulous surveying and city planning laid the groundwork for the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. His innovative approaches and mathematical prowess shaped the landscape of civil engineering.   🚂 Granville Woods: Railroad Innovator 🚂 Granville Woods, an African American inventor and engineer, revolutionized railroad safety with his inventions. His work on railway communication systems and improvements in train technology have left an enduring impact on transportation engineering.   As we honor these, and many other innovative engineers, let's continue to advocate for diversity and inclusion in civil engineering, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute and succeed. #BlackHistoryMonth #DiversityinEngineering #CivilEngineering #BuildingTomorrowToday #OrionExceeds #Innovation

Learn about these Black history makers who broke barriers in the skies. Check out this article to learn about ten Black pioneers in aviation. #BlackHistoryMonth #Aviation Learn more: https://bit.ly/47U9R0b

Things going really well so far with the Cooperate & Graduate Challenge! We’ve got a number of folks who haven’t missed a day yet and are piling up points. Our Captain Consistency ribbons go to: Aaron Chapman, Bob Sutter, Derek Phillips, Ed Fleming, Jacob Cook, Jim Reilly, John Pomory, Joe Sroka, Joe Saia, Kathy Borkoski, Maria Lorio, Molly Saia, Rich Pannell, Rick Preciado Way to go, my friends!! The above list is probably incomplete because a handful of folks haven’t begun recording their numbers. We have a bunch of folks who are absolutely crushing it and in close contention to win one of the three jackpot prizes. Our points leaders are as follows: In first place, Leah Heil, USMA ‘03 120 points 1200 total pushups 142,775 steps Runner up, John Pomory, USMA ‘91 117 points 1330 pushups 121.092 steps For the bronze, Rich Pannell, USMA ‘89 113 points 1130 pushups 113,000 steps All of these three beasts have an unbroken streak going. Other superlatives: The highest pushup total for any given day so far goes to John Pomory who beat his face for 261 pushups! He’s followed closely by our Naval Academy sister, Kathy Borkoski who crushed 220 pushups in a day. Wow! Leah Heil has pushed out 150 every single day of the challenge so far! The highest total daily step count goes to Julie Reilly, the brains and beauty behind MidStrong. Last Saturday, she got 26,603 steps. Our total jackpot is $800. Our winner will take home $400. The runner-up will pocket $280. And our bronze medalist earns $120. Pretty nice pocket change! If you haven’t gotten started at all with the challenge, well… no excuses. Start today. Every day that you do something is better than any day that you do nothing. As we teach and preach consistently at MidStrong - SOMETHING > NOTHING. Any questions, drop them in the comments below or message me directly. Remember, we are stronger than our excuses! #oldgradstrongproject #midstrong #goarmy #beatnavy #armystrong #pushups #steps #challenge #stronger #burnfat #buildmuscle #discipline #cgchallenge

Established in 1845, the US Naval Academy is steeped in tradition, one of the most memorable being the annual Herndon Monument climb, a tradition dating back to 1940. This symbolic ascent marks the culmination of the plebes' first year, a testament to their teamwork and determination. As plebes, first-year students, they face the daunting task of scaling the monument, slick with grease, to replace a plebe's "dixie-cup hat" with an upperclassman's combination cover. This ritual symbolizes their transition into the next phase of their Naval Academy journey, laden with challenges and camaraderie. Climbing Herndon is more than just a physical feat; it's a lesson in collaboration and persistence. It underscores the importance of working together towards a common goal, employing basic strategies, and supporting one another through every step of the journey. From lifting classmates on shoulders to locking arms in solidarity, every action contributes to the collective success. It’s been over four decades since I stood at the base of Herdon, yet the lesson resonates as strongly as ever: success is born from perseverance and teamwork. Whether in the military or in business, the principles remain the same—support your team, raise them up, learn from failure, and persist until you achieve your objectives. At the Naval Academy and beyond, the message is clear: with determination and unwavering support for one another, there's no summit too high to reach. Let's continue to climb together, honoring the legacy of collaboration set forth by those who came before us.

Commemorating the heroes of the Battle of Normandy. The United Kingdom is marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day through a series of significant commemorations and events, both across the UK and in France. These events honour the brave soldiers (most of them teenagers) who risked and lost their lives for freedom and peace. D-Day is recognised as a turning point in World War II. Known as Operation Neptune, the Normandy landings represented the largest seaborne invasion in history and were a crucial step in liberating Western Europe from Nazi occupation. This successful allied invasion demonstrated remarkable military innovation and international collaboration. While the majority of the personnel involved in D-Day were from the UK, the United States, and Canada, the operation also included significant contributions from Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and Poland. This coalition played a vital role in the allied victory. To commemorate this milestone anniversary, military historians are sharing the stories of Normandy veterans, focusing on those with unique or lesser-known roles in the campaign. These narratives help bring to light the diverse and heroic efforts of all who participated in this historic event, and most importantly keep these memories alive and significant for us all. D-Day stories - D-Day 80 (dday80.campaign.gov.uk) #PoweringChangeThroughCollaboration #WWII #NeverForgotten #DDay80 #ArmedForces

While I firmly believe that Black history and culture deserve recognition and celebration every single day of the year, I embrace February’s designation as Black History Month as a special opportunity to honor and reflect on the legacies and contributions of Black individuals throughout history. One individual I’d like to highlight is my uncle, LTC Alva Newte Temple, an officer in the U.S. Army Air Force and a combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group’s 99th Fighter Squadron and 300th Squadron, famously known as the Tuskegee Airmen. Alva came from humble beginnings, picking cotton to support his family before obtaining a degree in Agricultural Education from Alabama A&M University. In 1943, LTC Alva Newte Temple joined the U.S. Army Air Force, despite racial barriers and a segregated military. By doing so, he contributed to breaking down segregation within the military. His leadership, skill, dedication, and commitment were highlighted in the 1949 “Top Gun” team competition, where his team placed first. During World War II, Alva completed 120 missions, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, and was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. While stories like these inspire me and reinforce the belief that extraordinary achievements are possible, it’s crucial to recognize that they don’t unfold in a vacuum. Each triumph carries the weight of overcoming systemic barriers, which can vary widely in their impact on individuals based on their circumstances and contexts. Acknowledging these barriers does not diminish the remarkable determination and resilience shown by individuals who succeed despite them; rather, it highlights the extraordinary nature of their achievements. Success is not solely a product of personal effort; it often requires navigating through, and sometimes altering, the landscape of systemic challenges. While we celebrate individual victories, we must also commit to supporting systemic change that makes these successes not exceptional stories of overcoming, but normal outcomes of a just and equitable society. https://lnkd.in/gNHf_9eW

Manuscript Division Intern Chelsea Liu, a Fall 2023 LOCI Intern, offers a glimpse into the contributions  of Warren M. Tsuneishi both during World War II and through his three decades of service at the Library of Congress. His story is immortalized by the Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center and the Warren M. Tsuneishi Papers at the Library. Learn more through the blog below. #LibraryOfCongress #Veteran https://lnkd.in/eZ-3fMut